TRAILS partners gather in Thessaloniki for third plenary meeting
14/04/2025
On 7–8 April 2024, the partners of the TRAILS project came together in Thessaloniki for the third in-person plenary meeting, hosted by the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). The TRAILS project, funded under the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme aims to address skills shortages and mismatches across Europe.
This two-day event marked a key milestone in the project’s journey, as partners reviewed progress, celebrated achievements, and laid the foundation for the next project phase. The meeting came at a critical point in TRAILS, with multiple deliverables recently completed and several others approaching their deadlines. The plenary served as a platform for collaboration across academic institutions, research centres, regional actors, and technical experts—each contributing to the shared mission of leveraging artificial intelligence and big data to enhance skills matching and labour market analysis.
EARLALL as coordinator of regional engagement and of the Communication and Dissemination, EARLALL ensured that the voice of regional stakeholders remained central to the project’s strategy and outreach.
The network facilitated updates from regional partners and highlighted how regional ecosystems are contributing to TRAILS’ implementation. EARLALL also led discussions on upcoming communication milestones, including the development of outreach materials and the planning of a high-level Academic Workshop to be held in Brussels in 2026.
The meeting agenda opened with a warm welcome from AUTH, followed by updates on project management and progress toward the 1st Periodic Report. The afternoon focused on New Skills, Skills Bundling, and Labour Market Mobility.
One of the most anticipated moments was the unveiling of the first draft of the TRAILS platform —a prototype demonstrating how diverse research streams will be integrated into a powerful tool for policymakers and stakeholders.
The second day was forward-looking, with partners engaging in a strategic dialogue on long-term collaboration beyond the project’s lifecycle. A dedicated brainstorming session explored new synergies, interdisciplinary connections, and strategies to ensure the sustainability and real-world impact of the TRAILS platform.
As the meeting concluded, the consortium reaffirmed its commitment to building inclusive, adaptive, and data-driven labour market solutions. With EARLALL leading key activities and regional voices driving innovation, TRAILS enters its next phase with momentum and clarity of purpose.
